'She must have every chance' - can Highfield Princess see off Golden Pal and co?

Saturday: 4.29 Keeneland
Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (Grade 1) | 5½f | 3yo+ | ITV4/Sky/RTV

At a neutral venue, you would fancy the highly likeable and adaptable Highfield Princess as a more likely winner than Golden Pal.

That is no definitive comment on their abilities, it is simply that she has built her record under a wider spread of conditions, from steadily run 6½f races like the Maurice de Gheest to a soundly run Nunthorpe.

This particular course and distance is different. Golden Pal has run four of his 12 races over 5½f at Keeneland and won every one of them.

He took the Juvenile Turf Sprint at the last Breeders' Cup meeting here in 2020 and the other three represent three of his four best runs on Racing Post Ratings.

While Highfield Princess has earned her reputation by being able to win under a variety of conditions, it's worth mentioning her big performances have all come on straight tracks. The tight bend on Keeneland's turf track – which, typically for a US circuit, is on the inside of the dirt course – will be a relative novelty, at least since she entered the big time.

The 5½f start is at the beginning of the back straight, so there is plenty of time to make up for a wide draw as previous results at the Breeders' Cup have shown.

Also, Golden Pal put up his best performance when drawn nine of ten in a Grade 2 here in April. He is now eight of 14, which should cause no issues.

There's lots of speed among the low-drawn European runners, so Golden Pal may have to break sharply if jockey Irad Ortiz wants to lead.

Flotus (2) and Go Bears Go (5) are speedy, while Nunthorpe third and prominent racer Emaraaty Ana is in three.

If there is a bet at a big price, it might be the last named of those, as he has worked his way back to form of late for Kevin Ryan, who won this race with Glass Slippers the last time it was held at Keeneland.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

'I'd be looking for him to run a big, big race'

She conquered Britain, Ireland and France during a stunning summer of spectacular sprinting, but a different challenge faces Highfield Princess this time as she takes on Golden Pal in his own backyard.

Highfield Princess's back-to-back wins in the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Nunthorpe and Flying Five put her head and shoulders above the rest of Europe's sprinters.

However, Golden Pal is undefeated at Keeneland in four starts and has been successful in both outings at the Breeders' Cup. Nevertheless, Highfield Princess's trainer John Quinn is not going into the race with anything less than total confidence in his filly.

"She must have every chance," he said. "We're happy with her. But the American horse [Golden Pal] is very good and there's quite a few horses in the race with bits of form that would put them right there. So it's a spicy race, an open race."

Highfield Princess exercises at Keeneland before her Turf Sprint bidCredit: Edward Whitaker

Golden Pal's trainer Wesley Ward is never afraid to talk big about the chances of his horses and is eager for the four-year-old to end his career with a third triumph at the Breeders' Cup, having won this race at Del Mar last year and the 2020 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint.

"The only thing he hasn't done that I wish he could do, would be to go back to Royal Ascot and win the King's Stand, and he won't get a chance to do that," Ward said. "But if he can win three Breeders' Cups that really puts him in elite company, that's for sure."

Wesley Ward: saddles Golden Pal and CampanelleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ward also saddles Campanelle, winner of last year's Commonwealth Cup, and Arrest Me Red, who could lead the trainer's assault on Royal Ascot next summer.

"If I didn't have Golden Pal, I'd be singing his praises," Ward said of Arrest Me Red. "As you can see by his form, he's never run a bad race. We'll be looking at the King's Stand with him next year. He's really training very well. I'd be looking for him to run a big, big race.

"Campanelle's coming into the race [in] phenomenal [shape]. I am expecting a lot from her as well. The thing about her is if it's a hot pace up front, she's going to come running [late]."

What they say

Charlie Appleby, trainer of Creative Force and Naval Crown
Creative Force is a hold-up horse, so he's going to have to have a lot of luck in running, but he deserves to be here. Whereas Naval Crown has got a lot of natural gate speed for a European horse and he travels very well. I wish he was drawn a bit lower. He's going to have to use himself up a bit to get there. They're not going to look out of place in the paddock and they won't be in the last half of the field coming home.

Dave Loughnane, trainer of Go Bears Go
His biggest attribute is his attitude. He's an absolute terrier and he loves a fight. He'll step into a ring with anyone and he's very genuine.

Brad Cox, trainer of Caravel
I like the post [in stall ten]. Hopefully, she breaks well, and maybe sets off a few that go quick. I think we’ll have to have some racing luck for her to get there, but it can happen. She's doing so great.

Bill Mott, trainer of Casa Creed
He's probably a better horse going six to seven furlongs – that's his ideal distance – and we didn't feel that he really gets the mile over this particular turf course.

Brendan Walsh, trainer of Cazadero
If you told me when we bought him that he'd be running in the Breeders' Cup, I would have said you were crazy. Obviously, there will be plenty of speed, so hopefully we can cut into that at the end.

Michael Maker, trainer of Artemis Citylimits
He shows up and tries hard every time. I don't think he's been off the board in two years.
Reporting by Peter Scargill

Saturday's Breeders' Cup previews:

5.50 Keeneland: 'She pretty well handles anything' - favourite Nashwa has John Gosden excited

7.10 Keeneland: 'A worthy favourite' - Charlie Appleby bullish as Modern Games returns to the US

8.40: Can Appleby make it two in a row and continue European domination in the Turf?

9.40 Keeneland: Breeders' Cup Classic: can Flightline confirm himself as best since Secretariat?

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